Thetford
With nonprofit status, Friends of Treasure Island hopes to collect donations, provide volunteer manpower and lend a hand with management of the Thetford-owned swimming beach on Lake Fairlee.
The groups is seeking approval from the town to move forward with it plans.
“We could really create an efficient, practical and well-funded operation that could protect Treasure Island and actually enhance it,” Alexis Jetter, a member of the would-be nonprofit, said in an interview las week.
The nine-member group has a business plan for the property and is scheduled to present it to the Thetford Selectboard tonight. But it’s not certain how receptive town officials will be. Some have expressed skepticism about the property’s prospects in the past, while others are largely silent on the subject.
“We honestly have not had a discussion amongst ourselves (about Treasure Island),” said Selectbnoard Chairman Stuart Rogers on Sunday, adding he is waiting to see the business plan presentation before offering an opinion.
While Treasure Island has long been in need of repairs, last summer on Lake Fairlee was particularly challenging, according to the friends group. The summer camp had been discontinued, the longtime caretakers were asked to leave because the town couldn’t afford to renovate the caretaker’s house, and other structures on the property also are in disrepair.
Rogers said he studied the financial situation at Treasure Island before a Nov. 22 forum on the property. Looking through decades of town reports, he found the town had generated about $620,000 in revenue from operating the beach since acquiring it in 1973. But it spent about twice that much maintaining it.
“Our revenue has been half of what it costs us to operate it,” Rogers said. “That was shared just in a sense of ‘Where do we do? How do we go forward from here?’ ”
Although the town isn’t yet sure what it intends to do with Treasure Island, the friends group is asking for a chance to rectify the situation. As a nonprofit, it would operate like other groups that supplement spending on municipal parks.
In it’s report, the group points to the Winooski Valley Park District, which manages 18 parks in the Burlington area, as an example to would follow.
“Bottom line, in economic terms; nonprofit management of public parks enables communities to leverage public resources at a time of budget cuts while maximizing contributions by private citizens and foundations who believe in the preservation of public parks,” according to the friends group’s business plan.
Management isn’t all Treasure Island needs, Jetter said. The business plan calls for a capital campaign to rehabilitate the caretaker’s house into a multipurpose facility. Other goals are to reestablish the summer camp, bring a science center to the park and complete a long list of infrastructure improvements.
Also in the report are plans for new construction. Friends of Treasure Island hope to build a lightning shelter, possibly designed and built with the help of the Thetford Academy’s Design Technology program.
Jetter admitted much of what’s proposed would take place in the long-term. In the near future, they want to be sure the park continues to operate safely.
“We want to make it safe, clean, attractive and inviting to everyone,” she said.
Much of the improvements would be paid for by federal, state and private grants, along with donations and support from the town, according to the business plan.
“But we are realistic about the ability of Thetford residents alone to shoulder the cost of a revitalized Treasure Island,” the plan said. “So we will look beyond our immediate borders for sponsorship and support.
“Many local and regional foundations have philanthropic profiles that mirror our own focus on providing outdoor education and recreation to children and families,” the plan said.
Until he hears members of the group make their case, Rogers will wait to say where he’ll stand.
“I put a lot of thought into (Treasure Island) but I’m waiting to see what there is that we can do going forward,” he said. “It’s a challenging property and it’s one that definitely needs to be looked at.”
The Selectboard and Friends of Treasure Island are scheduled to discuss the business plan at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Thetford Town Hall.
Tim Camerato can be reached at tcamerato@vnews.com or 603-727-3223.